WESTFIELD – During public participation at the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting on May 10, residents spoke in support of flying the Pride Progress flag on Park Square Green during Pride month in June, before At-large Councilor Kristen Mello made the formal request to the commission on behalf of the Westfield Pride Alliance.
Tina Gorman, executive director of the Council on Aging, was the first to speak on the topic. She said older adults face a myriad of challenging issues, including physical, mental health, financial, and others which she said are magnified by being lesbian or gay. Gorman said in June of 2017 the staff of the COA began an educational journey which has led to a greater understanding of the issues that older LBGTQ and their allies face, and last year the COA held a breakfast for them, where they flew the flag. Gorman asked that the Parks & Recreation committee seriously consider the request to fly the Pride flag during the month of June.
Chris Clark of Westfield talked about his own journey, in which he said he was outed in high school by someone other than himself. He said he faced running away or suicide, and said suicide is the second leading cause of death for people in the LBGTQ community between the ages of 10 and 24. Clark said mistreatment still exists in Westfield. “I’ve achieved personal acceptance for who I am. Parks & Recreation can help strengthen our community. The Pride flag raising can help save someone’s life,” he said.
New Westfield resident Katie Weglarz also spoke in support of raising the Pride flag. She said seeing Pride flags flown around Westfield is part of what made herself and her family decide to move to the city a year ago. “It’s important in welcoming new people to the city,” she said.
Another new resident, Kelsey Emmett, spoke in favor of the Westfield Pride Alliance flag raising. She said when moving here, she was told that Westfield is a growing college town. “Seeing a flag raised meant a lot to me, being someone in the LGBTQ spectrum,” she said, adding that the support is important for young people.
Kathy Bradford said she has lived in Westfield for almost 40 years, and spent her entire career here. She said she supports the flag raising as someone involved in the Westfield Pride Alliance, and said two out of five youth in that community between the ages of 18 and 24 have considered suicide. “Sending the message that you are welcome, that love is love and you can be happy is the best thing we can do,” she said.
Dennis Akins called himself a lifelong resident except for a few years away, and said he always believed Westfield was a very accepting place to live, but when he was growing up here, he didn’t feel like he belonged. “I started living my life authentically at age 27, then moved to Westfield, and they accepted me with open arms.” He said the Westfield Pride Alliance event at the Council on Aging last year was the first time the Pride flag flew at a municipal event. Then it flew in June in front of City Hall. “We’re trying to give the message to young people that they’re accepted here,” Akins said.
Ward 1 Councilor Nicholas J. Morganelli Jr., who is the liaison to Parks & Rec, said when he saw the item on the agenda, his first thought was what are the rules on flag flying on city property. He said he would need to look at the ordinances.
Bob Plasse also sent in a written statement, as he was not able to make the meeting. “As president of Westfield On Weekends, I have met with the Parks & Recreation Commission many times,” he wrote, and asked them to support flying the Pride flag for Pride month.
Another resident, Kelly Simon, spoke, saying she teaches in Westfield, and is the advisor for the gender and sexuality alliance at Westfield High School. She thanked everyone for speaking, and said she and the Westfield Tech advisor see so many students struggling, “it’s amazing how the flying of a flag can bring feelings of affirmation and feeling valued and seen in their community,” she said, thanking the Pride Alliance for the effort. She also said it was important that the Pride Progress flag is the one being requested, which is slightly different, and shows support for people of color and LGBTQ people of color in the community.
